Huntsville City Council Approves Interim City Manager Contract

by Walker County News Today staff

At its regular meeting Tuesday evening the Huntsville City Council approved an employee agreement with newly selected Interim City Manager, Aron Kulhavy. The term of the agreement is 6 months beginning on February 15, 2018 and ending on August 15, 2018. The term can be extended beyond that date under terms and conditions agreeable to both parties.

Kulhavy has been employed by the City for 10 years and is currently the City’s Director of Community and Economic Development. The agreement stipulates that he will return to that position once his employment as Interim City Manager is concluded.

Other Business

In other business the City Council –

Authorized the City Manager to apply for an Emergency Management Performance Grant. This is a small federal grant provided through the state of Texas that helps the City pay for its system of emergency preparedness.

Authorized the purchase of components to provide for the encryption of data for the City’s Police Department. This allows the Police Department to have access to criminal justice information provided by the FBI through the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). This cost is funded by a grant from the Governor’s Office.

Authorized the purchase of one automated residential solid waste garbage truck at a cost of $291,335. This is a planned replacement for an older truck in the current fleet.

Authorized the City Manager to approve annual purchase orders for various road and drainage materials from multiple venders. The materials are used for repair, maintenance and improvement of city streets. The venders were chosen through a competitive sealed-bid process.

Executive Session

The Council then retired into a session closed to the public to “deliberate regarding the purchase, exchange, lease, or value of real property, concerning Proposition 1 properties.” Proposition 1 was the ballot initiative approved by the voters in November of 2016 that authorized the City to issue tax bonds in an amount not to exceed $31 Million for police and fire protection facilities.

When the Council reconvened in public session, no action was taken on this item and the council meeting was adjourned.